The Casualties

Punk is a notoriously conservative genre, but there's something to be said for sticking to your guns. Most punk bands rarely innovate further than a melodic chorus, and when they try their hand at crossover material, it usually embarrasses more than it impresses. Couple this with intense fans, and it's no wonder why bands rely on the same formula. The Casualties are the kind of band that make the genre vital again. Their guttural street punk sound harks back to days when punk was repugnant, not accepted. Even at their catchiest, on the scream-along "World Of Rumors," they're still as abrasive as ever. It's reinventing the wheel, sure, but Under Attack makes liberty spikes seem cool again.